First, she threw a 1930s curveball at us with this belted Jenny Packham gown. And she threw in an updo and a fabulous pair of blue topaz and diamond earrings, which would normally be enough to make me swoon over anything. However. But. Well...

As much as I love the idea of her going all Old Hollywood, I think that's the sort of theme that needs a bit more commitment. Maybe starting with a sleeker hairdo. Yeah, mark this down as the rare occasion an updo didn't win me over. I give the whole thing...three blinks and a shrug. (I'll still take the earrings, though.) (And the dates, hey-o.)

In other reversals of opinion...

The Duchess of Cambridge attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at the V&A

Given my well-documented dislike of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's famous prairie dresses, I should not take well to an attempt to usurp that Nordic pioneer throne. But against all odds, I kinda like this particular change of pace. (What's not against all odds: me disagreeing with most of you, probably.) The dimension and movement of that ruffle intrigue me - yeah that's right, I STAND WITH THE RUFFLE - and it's nice to see her in a bold Erdem floral that strikes closer to the designs for which the label is so well known.

The sapphire and diamond earrings here are A+ too: more jewels debuted from the stash of the late Queen Mother! Naturally, I have a post up on them over at the Jewel Vault. And also naturally, I'd totally copy and paste the previous evening's hair here, because these babies deserve to be shown off. (Some things never change after all...)